New Real Madrid signing Trent Alexander-Arnold was suspiciously absent from manager Xabi Alonso's starting lineup in the club's semifinal matchup of the Club World Cup against PSG

Football Insider Fabrizio Romano ruled that the English defender suffered a "setback in training" and was replaced in the starting lineup by midfielder Federico Valverde.

It's unclear whether Alexander-Arnold's presence in the defensive line, either at right-back in a back four or in the wing-back position he was deployed in against RB Salzburg in the group stage, would have made much of a difference: PSG blitzed Madrid for three goals in the match's opening 24 minutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold ruled out of Real Madrid Club World Cup semi-final vs PSG	Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Real Madrid Club World Cup semi-final vs PSG with injury	Trent Alexander-Arnold set to undergo injury tests after missing Club World Cup semi-final defeat to PSG - with Real Madrid team-mate facing weeks out

The last time he faced PSG (in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16), the English defender struggled against PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Kvaratskhelia was not the main attraction in the first half for PSG on Wednesday, though he missed a straightforward chance in the 40th minute after sneaking in past teenage Madrid defender Raul Asencio.

In five games for Madrid, Alexander-Arnold recorded five key passes and an assist (he initially logged two, though one was ruled back for a deflection)

"The manager speaks to me a lot individually to make sure I understand everything that gets said," he revealed

"The meetings are in Spanish so he goes out his way and the staff go out the way to make sure I understand the game plan